2013 NBA Mock Draft v2.0
Watch out for that slide, Anthony Bennett.1-Cleveland Cavaliers-Nerlens Noel-don’t believe what you hear. Otto Porter will not be the #1 pick. This is all bluff from other teams trying to draw a blink or a cringe from teams #2-4. There are three guys absolutely worth the top pick in this type of draft. With a draft where pick #8 is as valuable as pick #1 and probably more coveted as there’s less pressure, you have two options-take the surest thing, or take the most potential-laden pick. By average, Noel averages out near the top in both of those categories. There’s the fewest questions (outside of the knee) for him and he fits a need which isn’t difficult considering the Cavs have a few. Look, the NBA front court player today isn’t about upper body mass and overall size, but a mixture of brains, core strength, physical tools and love for the game. Noel draws atop of most of these. He’s got great natural instincts as a defender, elite athletic abilities and is saying and doing all the right things with his rehab.
2-Orlando Magic-Trey Burke-here’s where I tend to miss on these types of picks. When it’s between player X and player Z, I tend to lean towards the one who makes you more complete (a la Beasley over Rose because the Bulls needed a front court player). Oladipo has great defensive instincts and untapped potential with the right tutelage, McLemore played on a big stage, hit some shots, showed prototypical NBA 2-guard ability and Burke was seen as undersized, underathletic (a word?) and missing pieces to his game. The biggest knock on Burke to critics is he won’t be an all-star. NBA point guard is the deepest position in the league and to find a point guard above the likes of Westbrook, Rose, Rondo, Paul, etc just doesn’t happen in a draft like this, but Burke is pure point guard with 1 on 1 skills and a huge brain. Look at Tony Parker and Chris Paul. Both are quick, but neither will astound you in a weight room competition or on the track. Burke fits this mold. He makes solid decisions, played on a big stage and was THE man on a team that had too many questions. Hell, Burke single handedly made an overweight, undermatched white freshman big man from Michigan nearly a 1st round pick!
3-Washington Wizards-Alex Len-the Wiz are right on the verge. After suffering through some of the worst; Arenas and his guns, horrible contracts, trading #5 pick (Rubio, Curry) for Foye and Mike Miller, John Wall injury, etc, they are close to putting it together and making another playoff run. Now they fell into dumb luck, or good karma, take your pick. They pulled a reverse tank bringing Wall back from injury and playing hard through the end of the season, lost draft positioning, ended up 8th worst (ahead of their 2nd and 3rd worst all season until their late seasons run) and still got the 3rd pick in the lottery. Otto Porter is sitting on the board, you have a hole at the 3 that is the most obvious, but the hole that is least talked about for Washington is a future front court player. They’ve been searching for the last two years to find that guy drafting guys like Trevor Booker, Chris Singleton, Jan Vesely, and Kevin Seraphin, then traded for Nene’s massive contract and filled a stop gap with Okafor. Alex Len could be the #1 pick in this draft if he could fully compete in workouts, but his injured foot hurts him. You don’t want to mess with big men’s feet, but Len is worth the risk here. When I watch him, I think Brook Lopez, but a Lopez who actually plays like he’s 7’.
4-Charlotte Bobcats-Ben McLemore-Gerald Henderson a highly sought after free agent, Ben Gordon possibly a free agent, a lack of shooting and scoring on the perimeter…insert McLemore. This is more of a need pick for the Bobcats, but Otto Porter here is duplicating last year’s pick in Kidd-Gilchrist. What scares me most about McLemore was that everything about him seems average. If he played at Florida State instead of Kansas, he may not be a 1st round pick. He’s surprisingly smaller than realized (6’4” without shoes), his numbers (16, 5 and 2) weren’t out of this world, and his love for the game is in question. I heard a comparison that turned a lightbulb on and made me fear for McLemore’s future…Brandon Rush. Yikes. You just hope he has the intestinal fortitude to prove scouts and the whispers wrong and be the scorer he’s shown the ability to be.
5-Phoenix Suns-Victor Oladipo-this is why this years draft, whether you’re #1 or #8, you’re getting a top flight player. Oladipo, by some accounts, could be the #1 pick depending on what you’re looking for. The Suns sit in a great spot here. They get their opportunity to take Oladipo, Porter or Bennett, all of which could fill needs. Oladipo provides the Suns with cohesion, energy, and defense along with his worldly potential. He fits into a fantastic backcourt with Dragic, an excellent ball handler, allowing Oladipo to play off screens, back cuts and tip ins. Probably the best fit in the top 5 is Oladipo to Phoenix and a very underrated get.
6-New Orleans Pelicans-Otto Porter-the Pelicans are an x-factor in the top 6. They could trade Gordon prior to the draft, they could trade this pick to move back to pick up an asset or move up. Worst case scenario for NOH is that Len, Oladipo , Porter and Burke are all off the board leaving them with McLemore or Bennett. McL fills a backcourt that is already stuffed with Gordon, Vasquez and Rivers and he isn’t necessarily ready to take on a role greater than one those three already have, so he suffers on the bench. Anthony Davis is more of a natural 4, along with Bennett who will only fit into a perfect system creating a weird frontcourt of Davis, Bennett and Anderson. This is all a moot point here as Porter falls to them, instantly fitting into a position of need for NOH (Aminu is a free agent and not worth bringing back at big money) and is the BPA. Porter can be the glue guy between Vasquez-a terrific passer, Gordon-an enigmatic scorer and the frontcourt of Davis and Anderson who each have their deficiencies.
7-Sacramento Kings-CJ McCollum-how does Sacramento re-build? Re-sign Evans who had a huge bounce back year, draft McCollum who is the ideal fit next to Evans, hope Cousins pulls his head out of his ass and look to package other assets (Fredette, Thornton, Hayes, expiring contract of Salmons) all of which would be beneficial to a playoff team and add more pieces. I’m fully on the Evans bandwagon and would give him 4/44 in free agency. The Kings major issues was the shooting around Evans and Cousins wasn’t great. Insert the best shooter in the draft-McCollum-and you have a formidable backcourt. The knock on McCollum is he’s not a pure point and undersized (6’3”) for the NBA 2. My counter is, he was forced to be a primary scorer in college, can distribute the ball but also has elite shooting abilities. Sounds like just the right guy next to Evans and to space the floor for Cousins.
8-Detroit Pistons-Michael Carter-Williams-I’ve been so fully on and so fully off the MCW bandwagon that I caused it to tip over and still asked for a refund. He’s a player who needs shooters and pick and roll players around him. He also needs a backcourt mate that can cover up his shooting inefficiencies as almosttoobig size for his position to cover quicker point guards. Brandon Knight isn’t perfect, but a good backcourt mate and MCW and Monroe running the pick and roll would be a sight to see. I fear though that the Pistons offense could be a bit too bogged down with MCW, Monroe and Drummond playing together, which is why they need to utilize their cap space this summer but not in a Ben Gordon/Charlie Villanueva for $85 million type of way.
9-Minnesota Timberwolves-Shabazz Muhammed-not ideal for Minnesota who hopes for someone to drop to them not named Anthony Bennett. Maybe at this point they could find a suitor to trade up for Bennett and pick up an asset in the process. The Wolves already have Bennett on their roster in Derrick Williams and need shooting. Muhammed can step in and play the 2/3 in different lineups, score the ball, be a bad influence on the team and completely ruin the broken down chemistry as it is. Or, he could be the 2nd scorer the Wolves need, progress Rubio as a playmaker and give Love a running mate to make him stick in Minny. Either way, it’s a make or break pick for Minny, so no pressure!
10-Portland Trailblazers-Steven Adams-the Blazers are not a good drafting team. Lillard fell right into their laps, as did Batum. Outside of that, in 2011 they took Nolan Smith right before Kenneth Faried, Meyers Leonard ahead of John Henson in 2012, and Elliot Williams ahead of…well, nobody in 2010, so can’t really fault them for that. They either have terrible luck falling into spots where for their pick and 5 picks after them a bunch of stiffs are projected or just can’t find the right player within that tier of picks. Portland seems destined to fall into that spot again, however at 10, somebody could be there. Anthony Bennett has suddenly slid so far to #10 that he’s their for the taking. But the Blazers pass and take Adams since the Blazers have been so narrow-sighted since losing out on Greg Oden that they have only targeted a twin-tower clone to pair alongside Aldridge. Insert Adams who is extremely raw, not ready for the NBA and will take 3 years to develop. Regardless, the Blazers can throw him and Leonard out there, spotting each other 8 minutes at a time and not completely obliterate this team. I’m just not in love with Adams, nor am I in love with anything Portland has going for them, therefore this seems like a perfect fit. I also love Aldridge to Cleveland for #1 where they pick up Noel and an asset at #10 and work a full on re-build.
11-Philadelphia 76ers-Anthony Bennett-the slide finally stops at #11. This is the farthest he will drop, although I still see product behind him that could be argued. I just don’t like his game. He doesn’t fit in the NBA scheme and has too much DerrickWilliams/Michael Beasley-ness to him. He’s not a great fit in Philly, but Philly has been determined for years to put players together that don’t fit.
12-Oklahoma City Thunder-Cody Zeller- a dream scenario for OKC if Zeller can get past Philly at 11. He’s shot up draft boards as of late. He was so intensely seen as an NBA center until combine and workouts where he and his agent said, ‘hey, look, I’m a 4. I’m a stretch 4 who can board. Oh, hey, I’m also one of the most athletic guys in this ENTIRE DRAFT CLASS!’ I was one of those blinded by his shying away from contact in college, his small hands and lack of strength, but I see it now. And in OKC, what a fantastic fit next to Durant and Ibaka.
13-Dallas Mavericks-Dario Saric-rumored to be on the verge of pulling the plug on this draft and going back overseas because he hasn’t had a great promise yet. This is a confusing pick and one that’s difficult to project because it’s been a foregone conclusion that Dallas will trade this pick. They want all the cap room they can get to go after Paul or Howard this summer and are so intent on doing so that Nowitzki came out and said he’s taking a paycut to do so. Saric, by some euro scouts, has been touted as good as Otto Porter. He’d be a good stash pick for another year where Dallas cuts most of his salary off their books for 2013-2014, gets the free agency money they need and can bring him over in a year when he’s more seasoned and could be an instant impact.
14-Utah Jazz-Shane Larkin-the Jazz fell in love with Larkin during their workout where he allegedly looked like an elite NBA point guard shooting the ball, distributing along with his speed and quickness. The Jazz have a major need at point guard and Larkin could be instant impact. 14 seems to be the place to pick up a point guard since the Bucks are nipping at their heels for one as well.
15-Milwaukee Bucks-Kenatavious Caldwell-Pope-if Larkin is off and someone didn’t massively plummet to Milwaukee, KCP looks like he could be the guy. He has range from picks #8 to here. One of the best shooters in the draft with ideal size and ready to play. This could entirely depend on the plans the Bucks have for the rest of the off-season, but this could signal a few moves in the process, including Redick not coming back.
16-Boston Celtics-Rudy Gobert-the Celtics sit at 16 with a lot of questions of their future and not a lot of time to figure it out. Gobert was by far the biggest player in the draft, yet one of the least athletic and plays off of pure instinct. He needs a point guard that can get him the ball and Rondo is exactly that type of guy. Surprisingly, in his draft tapes, he’s primarily a pick and roll big man which is one big advantage for him because he won’t have to learn how to play it. Additionally, with someone Gobert’s size, you worry about his hands, but he looks to have terrific hands and great defensive instincts. It may take him a few years, but he has all the physical tools you’d look for in a 7’+ big.
17-Atlanta Hawks-Sergey Karasev-one of the high risers in this draft is Karasev. At 6’7”, he’s a fantastic shooter, has solid ball skills and tested out slightly above average physically. He’s only 19 years old and has already dominated overseas. The Hawks are likely to lose out on Korver in free agency and would be glad to let him walk at 31, going on 32 and likely going to get a good chunk of change for his shooting. Karasev inserts at 17 as the takeover at the 3.
18-Atlanta Hawks-Kelly Olynyk-everyone has an answer for the Hawks and how to figure out their frontcourt with Horford. Yes, Horford is a natural 4. He can post up, plays mid-range and in. He can board like hell for a guy whos 6’9” and play defense and is an excellent passer in the lane. You don’t want a stiff clogging up the middle for him which creates a double team. You can someone who’s big, but can spread the floor for him. Olynyk has slid to a more natural 4 spot for him during the combines and interviews and showed off some excellent touch from the perimeter along with elite ball handling skills for a big. He seems to be a great fit for the Hawks.
19-Cleveland Cavaliers-Jamaal Franklin-this is a value pick for the Cavs. They need a 3, but Karasev and Muhammed are off the board and I’m not ready to put Glen Rice this high. Franklin also doesn’t go higher than 17, because he’s been hobbled by injury and can’t show off some of the best athletic skills this draft has to offer. At 6’5”, he played 2-5 in college and averaged 9.5 rebounds per game! He tested out with a 6’11” wingspan as well. That will translate to defense in the NBA. Any sort of offensive output he gives you is pure luxury.
20-Chicago Bulls-Gorgui Dieng-the Bulls could have their pick of Dieng, Plumlee and Whithey. This will strictly come down to talent evaluation for them as all players are 23 years old and will be used much the same in the NBA. They’re looking for a backup big man to help out defensively behind Noah and alongside Boozer. This could signal the end of the Taj Gibson era as well. Dieng is my pick here because he’s the best passer in this group and still has the most promise of any player.
21-Utah Jazz-Mason Plumlee-not the greatest scenario for the Jazz here as they miss out on Franklin, Karasev and Olynyk, all players who would be a better fit, but still can nab Plumlee who could go as high as 16. The Jazz have to deal with Millsap and Jefferson hitting free agency, but if they plan to let them both walk and move forward with Favors and Kanter, they need to add back court depth. Plumlee can spell either guy for a few minutes and be an energy, hustle guy for them.
22-Brooklyn Nets-Jeff Whithey-the Nets have a couple different needs. Whithey doesn’t seem to be the type of guy they look for since they tend to go for flash and scoring more than the smart player, but Whithey is an immediate upgrade to their frontcourt. They’re losing Blatche in free agency if he doesn’t come back, Evans is another year older and Humphries has been on his way out for the last year and a half. Whithey is the defensive shot blocking and rebounder they need who’s tough and strong. He can play immediately and provide instant impact behind Lopez.
23-Indiana Pacers-Dennis Schroeder-an absolute DREAM scenario for Indiana. They have loads of talent on their team and have free agency issues to deal with, but when a guy like Schroeder, who could go as high as 14, falls into your lap when you have a massive need for athletic distributing point guard, you can’t pass on him. Schroeder doesn’t have to play right away, but can come along slowly and develop alongside the likes of Hill, George and Hibbert.
24-New York Knicks-Ricky Ledo-doesn’t this just seem to be the fit? Ledo has been the latest to make the jump from the 2nd to 1st round. A 6’6” combo guard with point guard ability and an elite athlete with a troubled past. Just seems to be the type of fit for the Knicks with Kidd retiring, Prigioni going on 37 and a free agent and Felton their lone point guard.
25-Los Angeles Clippers-Mike Muscala-if Muscala doesn’t sneak into the 1st round I’d be surprised. He stood out at the combine at a solid 6’11”, slightly above average wingspan and tested out near the tops athletically for big men. Couple that with his developed low post scoring and sneaky good shot blocking, he could be a late steal here for the Clippers who desperately need someone to spell Jordan that doesn’t give up size and create scoring on the interior.
26-Minnesota Timberwolves-Allen Crabbe-Muhammed early, Crabbe late…ya think the Wolves need help shooting the ball. Ridnour is not a 2-guard, Shved had an up and down year, Budinger is coming off surgery and is a UFA…in a draft like this, and you have two picks where you pick up two of the top six best wing scorers, you have to hit on one of them. Don’t be stupid, Minnesota, and reach for someone.
27-Denver Nuggets-Giannis Adetokounmpo-I don’t know. I just don’t. He’s allegedly got a lottery promise, making him stay in this draft for some reason. I bet it’s with Dallas at 13 which is why the rumors are that Saric is on his way out of this draft. Denver has plenty of talent, they don’t need to add to their roster right now. They could even sell this pick, but Giannis or Noguiera seem like safe picks to stash.
28-San Antonio Spurs-Tim Hardaway Jr-interesting scenario for SA. If they win the championship, I could easily see Duncan retiring leaving the Spurs with a big hole to fill. Ginobili appears to be on his last legs, although still a solid player and is a free agent. In a state where the Spurs might be near re-build, or at the very least, re-tool, they could use another play maker. Nobody can duplicate what Duncan has done, but Splitter is no slouch and you’re not going to a find a competent big man at 28 in this draft to play right away. Muscala would be a good pick here if he didn’t go at 25, but Hardaway could be instant impact as a 6th man on the wing alongside Green and Leonard. Those 3 with Parker and Splitter is a great starting point for SA after a championship run and possible re-tool in sight.
29-Oklahoma City Thunder-CJ Leslie-at 29, I hope OKC doesn’t bottom out for the highest bidder, because there’s talent available. Leslie, after picking up Zeller early, is a great fit. He’s a combo forward with phenomenal athletic skills who could have been labeled an above average point guard athletically if he tested with them during the combine. Leslie faded this far back after such high expectations the last two years because his NC State team didn’t get anywhere. Leslie’s game though, translates better to the NBA as a role player than as a college star. Another angle could be PG for OKC here since it seems as though the trust for Reggie Jackson, for whatever reason, isn’t there because Derek Fisher played so damn much for them in the playoffs.
30-Phoenix Suns-Reggie Bullock-Bullock is another guy, during the combine, who could have shot himself into the 1st round with his shooting ability. The Suns have a need at backup center, but can make do in other ways. Picking Oladipo and Bullock could push Beasley out of the rotation for good and also fills a gap that needs filling with Shannon Brown and Wesley Johnson both free agents.
2-Orlando Magic-Trey Burke-here’s where I tend to miss on these types of picks. When it’s between player X and player Z, I tend to lean towards the one who makes you more complete (a la Beasley over Rose because the Bulls needed a front court player). Oladipo has great defensive instincts and untapped potential with the right tutelage, McLemore played on a big stage, hit some shots, showed prototypical NBA 2-guard ability and Burke was seen as undersized, underathletic (a word?) and missing pieces to his game. The biggest knock on Burke to critics is he won’t be an all-star. NBA point guard is the deepest position in the league and to find a point guard above the likes of Westbrook, Rose, Rondo, Paul, etc just doesn’t happen in a draft like this, but Burke is pure point guard with 1 on 1 skills and a huge brain. Look at Tony Parker and Chris Paul. Both are quick, but neither will astound you in a weight room competition or on the track. Burke fits this mold. He makes solid decisions, played on a big stage and was THE man on a team that had too many questions. Hell, Burke single handedly made an overweight, undermatched white freshman big man from Michigan nearly a 1st round pick!
3-Washington Wizards-Alex Len-the Wiz are right on the verge. After suffering through some of the worst; Arenas and his guns, horrible contracts, trading #5 pick (Rubio, Curry) for Foye and Mike Miller, John Wall injury, etc, they are close to putting it together and making another playoff run. Now they fell into dumb luck, or good karma, take your pick. They pulled a reverse tank bringing Wall back from injury and playing hard through the end of the season, lost draft positioning, ended up 8th worst (ahead of their 2nd and 3rd worst all season until their late seasons run) and still got the 3rd pick in the lottery. Otto Porter is sitting on the board, you have a hole at the 3 that is the most obvious, but the hole that is least talked about for Washington is a future front court player. They’ve been searching for the last two years to find that guy drafting guys like Trevor Booker, Chris Singleton, Jan Vesely, and Kevin Seraphin, then traded for Nene’s massive contract and filled a stop gap with Okafor. Alex Len could be the #1 pick in this draft if he could fully compete in workouts, but his injured foot hurts him. You don’t want to mess with big men’s feet, but Len is worth the risk here. When I watch him, I think Brook Lopez, but a Lopez who actually plays like he’s 7’.
4-Charlotte Bobcats-Ben McLemore-Gerald Henderson a highly sought after free agent, Ben Gordon possibly a free agent, a lack of shooting and scoring on the perimeter…insert McLemore. This is more of a need pick for the Bobcats, but Otto Porter here is duplicating last year’s pick in Kidd-Gilchrist. What scares me most about McLemore was that everything about him seems average. If he played at Florida State instead of Kansas, he may not be a 1st round pick. He’s surprisingly smaller than realized (6’4” without shoes), his numbers (16, 5 and 2) weren’t out of this world, and his love for the game is in question. I heard a comparison that turned a lightbulb on and made me fear for McLemore’s future…Brandon Rush. Yikes. You just hope he has the intestinal fortitude to prove scouts and the whispers wrong and be the scorer he’s shown the ability to be.
5-Phoenix Suns-Victor Oladipo-this is why this years draft, whether you’re #1 or #8, you’re getting a top flight player. Oladipo, by some accounts, could be the #1 pick depending on what you’re looking for. The Suns sit in a great spot here. They get their opportunity to take Oladipo, Porter or Bennett, all of which could fill needs. Oladipo provides the Suns with cohesion, energy, and defense along with his worldly potential. He fits into a fantastic backcourt with Dragic, an excellent ball handler, allowing Oladipo to play off screens, back cuts and tip ins. Probably the best fit in the top 5 is Oladipo to Phoenix and a very underrated get.
6-New Orleans Pelicans-Otto Porter-the Pelicans are an x-factor in the top 6. They could trade Gordon prior to the draft, they could trade this pick to move back to pick up an asset or move up. Worst case scenario for NOH is that Len, Oladipo , Porter and Burke are all off the board leaving them with McLemore or Bennett. McL fills a backcourt that is already stuffed with Gordon, Vasquez and Rivers and he isn’t necessarily ready to take on a role greater than one those three already have, so he suffers on the bench. Anthony Davis is more of a natural 4, along with Bennett who will only fit into a perfect system creating a weird frontcourt of Davis, Bennett and Anderson. This is all a moot point here as Porter falls to them, instantly fitting into a position of need for NOH (Aminu is a free agent and not worth bringing back at big money) and is the BPA. Porter can be the glue guy between Vasquez-a terrific passer, Gordon-an enigmatic scorer and the frontcourt of Davis and Anderson who each have their deficiencies.
7-Sacramento Kings-CJ McCollum-how does Sacramento re-build? Re-sign Evans who had a huge bounce back year, draft McCollum who is the ideal fit next to Evans, hope Cousins pulls his head out of his ass and look to package other assets (Fredette, Thornton, Hayes, expiring contract of Salmons) all of which would be beneficial to a playoff team and add more pieces. I’m fully on the Evans bandwagon and would give him 4/44 in free agency. The Kings major issues was the shooting around Evans and Cousins wasn’t great. Insert the best shooter in the draft-McCollum-and you have a formidable backcourt. The knock on McCollum is he’s not a pure point and undersized (6’3”) for the NBA 2. My counter is, he was forced to be a primary scorer in college, can distribute the ball but also has elite shooting abilities. Sounds like just the right guy next to Evans and to space the floor for Cousins.
8-Detroit Pistons-Michael Carter-Williams-I’ve been so fully on and so fully off the MCW bandwagon that I caused it to tip over and still asked for a refund. He’s a player who needs shooters and pick and roll players around him. He also needs a backcourt mate that can cover up his shooting inefficiencies as almosttoobig size for his position to cover quicker point guards. Brandon Knight isn’t perfect, but a good backcourt mate and MCW and Monroe running the pick and roll would be a sight to see. I fear though that the Pistons offense could be a bit too bogged down with MCW, Monroe and Drummond playing together, which is why they need to utilize their cap space this summer but not in a Ben Gordon/Charlie Villanueva for $85 million type of way.
9-Minnesota Timberwolves-Shabazz Muhammed-not ideal for Minnesota who hopes for someone to drop to them not named Anthony Bennett. Maybe at this point they could find a suitor to trade up for Bennett and pick up an asset in the process. The Wolves already have Bennett on their roster in Derrick Williams and need shooting. Muhammed can step in and play the 2/3 in different lineups, score the ball, be a bad influence on the team and completely ruin the broken down chemistry as it is. Or, he could be the 2nd scorer the Wolves need, progress Rubio as a playmaker and give Love a running mate to make him stick in Minny. Either way, it’s a make or break pick for Minny, so no pressure!
10-Portland Trailblazers-Steven Adams-the Blazers are not a good drafting team. Lillard fell right into their laps, as did Batum. Outside of that, in 2011 they took Nolan Smith right before Kenneth Faried, Meyers Leonard ahead of John Henson in 2012, and Elliot Williams ahead of…well, nobody in 2010, so can’t really fault them for that. They either have terrible luck falling into spots where for their pick and 5 picks after them a bunch of stiffs are projected or just can’t find the right player within that tier of picks. Portland seems destined to fall into that spot again, however at 10, somebody could be there. Anthony Bennett has suddenly slid so far to #10 that he’s their for the taking. But the Blazers pass and take Adams since the Blazers have been so narrow-sighted since losing out on Greg Oden that they have only targeted a twin-tower clone to pair alongside Aldridge. Insert Adams who is extremely raw, not ready for the NBA and will take 3 years to develop. Regardless, the Blazers can throw him and Leonard out there, spotting each other 8 minutes at a time and not completely obliterate this team. I’m just not in love with Adams, nor am I in love with anything Portland has going for them, therefore this seems like a perfect fit. I also love Aldridge to Cleveland for #1 where they pick up Noel and an asset at #10 and work a full on re-build.
11-Philadelphia 76ers-Anthony Bennett-the slide finally stops at #11. This is the farthest he will drop, although I still see product behind him that could be argued. I just don’t like his game. He doesn’t fit in the NBA scheme and has too much DerrickWilliams/Michael Beasley-ness to him. He’s not a great fit in Philly, but Philly has been determined for years to put players together that don’t fit.
12-Oklahoma City Thunder-Cody Zeller- a dream scenario for OKC if Zeller can get past Philly at 11. He’s shot up draft boards as of late. He was so intensely seen as an NBA center until combine and workouts where he and his agent said, ‘hey, look, I’m a 4. I’m a stretch 4 who can board. Oh, hey, I’m also one of the most athletic guys in this ENTIRE DRAFT CLASS!’ I was one of those blinded by his shying away from contact in college, his small hands and lack of strength, but I see it now. And in OKC, what a fantastic fit next to Durant and Ibaka.
13-Dallas Mavericks-Dario Saric-rumored to be on the verge of pulling the plug on this draft and going back overseas because he hasn’t had a great promise yet. This is a confusing pick and one that’s difficult to project because it’s been a foregone conclusion that Dallas will trade this pick. They want all the cap room they can get to go after Paul or Howard this summer and are so intent on doing so that Nowitzki came out and said he’s taking a paycut to do so. Saric, by some euro scouts, has been touted as good as Otto Porter. He’d be a good stash pick for another year where Dallas cuts most of his salary off their books for 2013-2014, gets the free agency money they need and can bring him over in a year when he’s more seasoned and could be an instant impact.
14-Utah Jazz-Shane Larkin-the Jazz fell in love with Larkin during their workout where he allegedly looked like an elite NBA point guard shooting the ball, distributing along with his speed and quickness. The Jazz have a major need at point guard and Larkin could be instant impact. 14 seems to be the place to pick up a point guard since the Bucks are nipping at their heels for one as well.
15-Milwaukee Bucks-Kenatavious Caldwell-Pope-if Larkin is off and someone didn’t massively plummet to Milwaukee, KCP looks like he could be the guy. He has range from picks #8 to here. One of the best shooters in the draft with ideal size and ready to play. This could entirely depend on the plans the Bucks have for the rest of the off-season, but this could signal a few moves in the process, including Redick not coming back.
16-Boston Celtics-Rudy Gobert-the Celtics sit at 16 with a lot of questions of their future and not a lot of time to figure it out. Gobert was by far the biggest player in the draft, yet one of the least athletic and plays off of pure instinct. He needs a point guard that can get him the ball and Rondo is exactly that type of guy. Surprisingly, in his draft tapes, he’s primarily a pick and roll big man which is one big advantage for him because he won’t have to learn how to play it. Additionally, with someone Gobert’s size, you worry about his hands, but he looks to have terrific hands and great defensive instincts. It may take him a few years, but he has all the physical tools you’d look for in a 7’+ big.
17-Atlanta Hawks-Sergey Karasev-one of the high risers in this draft is Karasev. At 6’7”, he’s a fantastic shooter, has solid ball skills and tested out slightly above average physically. He’s only 19 years old and has already dominated overseas. The Hawks are likely to lose out on Korver in free agency and would be glad to let him walk at 31, going on 32 and likely going to get a good chunk of change for his shooting. Karasev inserts at 17 as the takeover at the 3.
18-Atlanta Hawks-Kelly Olynyk-everyone has an answer for the Hawks and how to figure out their frontcourt with Horford. Yes, Horford is a natural 4. He can post up, plays mid-range and in. He can board like hell for a guy whos 6’9” and play defense and is an excellent passer in the lane. You don’t want a stiff clogging up the middle for him which creates a double team. You can someone who’s big, but can spread the floor for him. Olynyk has slid to a more natural 4 spot for him during the combines and interviews and showed off some excellent touch from the perimeter along with elite ball handling skills for a big. He seems to be a great fit for the Hawks.
19-Cleveland Cavaliers-Jamaal Franklin-this is a value pick for the Cavs. They need a 3, but Karasev and Muhammed are off the board and I’m not ready to put Glen Rice this high. Franklin also doesn’t go higher than 17, because he’s been hobbled by injury and can’t show off some of the best athletic skills this draft has to offer. At 6’5”, he played 2-5 in college and averaged 9.5 rebounds per game! He tested out with a 6’11” wingspan as well. That will translate to defense in the NBA. Any sort of offensive output he gives you is pure luxury.
20-Chicago Bulls-Gorgui Dieng-the Bulls could have their pick of Dieng, Plumlee and Whithey. This will strictly come down to talent evaluation for them as all players are 23 years old and will be used much the same in the NBA. They’re looking for a backup big man to help out defensively behind Noah and alongside Boozer. This could signal the end of the Taj Gibson era as well. Dieng is my pick here because he’s the best passer in this group and still has the most promise of any player.
21-Utah Jazz-Mason Plumlee-not the greatest scenario for the Jazz here as they miss out on Franklin, Karasev and Olynyk, all players who would be a better fit, but still can nab Plumlee who could go as high as 16. The Jazz have to deal with Millsap and Jefferson hitting free agency, but if they plan to let them both walk and move forward with Favors and Kanter, they need to add back court depth. Plumlee can spell either guy for a few minutes and be an energy, hustle guy for them.
22-Brooklyn Nets-Jeff Whithey-the Nets have a couple different needs. Whithey doesn’t seem to be the type of guy they look for since they tend to go for flash and scoring more than the smart player, but Whithey is an immediate upgrade to their frontcourt. They’re losing Blatche in free agency if he doesn’t come back, Evans is another year older and Humphries has been on his way out for the last year and a half. Whithey is the defensive shot blocking and rebounder they need who’s tough and strong. He can play immediately and provide instant impact behind Lopez.
23-Indiana Pacers-Dennis Schroeder-an absolute DREAM scenario for Indiana. They have loads of talent on their team and have free agency issues to deal with, but when a guy like Schroeder, who could go as high as 14, falls into your lap when you have a massive need for athletic distributing point guard, you can’t pass on him. Schroeder doesn’t have to play right away, but can come along slowly and develop alongside the likes of Hill, George and Hibbert.
24-New York Knicks-Ricky Ledo-doesn’t this just seem to be the fit? Ledo has been the latest to make the jump from the 2nd to 1st round. A 6’6” combo guard with point guard ability and an elite athlete with a troubled past. Just seems to be the type of fit for the Knicks with Kidd retiring, Prigioni going on 37 and a free agent and Felton their lone point guard.
25-Los Angeles Clippers-Mike Muscala-if Muscala doesn’t sneak into the 1st round I’d be surprised. He stood out at the combine at a solid 6’11”, slightly above average wingspan and tested out near the tops athletically for big men. Couple that with his developed low post scoring and sneaky good shot blocking, he could be a late steal here for the Clippers who desperately need someone to spell Jordan that doesn’t give up size and create scoring on the interior.
26-Minnesota Timberwolves-Allen Crabbe-Muhammed early, Crabbe late…ya think the Wolves need help shooting the ball. Ridnour is not a 2-guard, Shved had an up and down year, Budinger is coming off surgery and is a UFA…in a draft like this, and you have two picks where you pick up two of the top six best wing scorers, you have to hit on one of them. Don’t be stupid, Minnesota, and reach for someone.
27-Denver Nuggets-Giannis Adetokounmpo-I don’t know. I just don’t. He’s allegedly got a lottery promise, making him stay in this draft for some reason. I bet it’s with Dallas at 13 which is why the rumors are that Saric is on his way out of this draft. Denver has plenty of talent, they don’t need to add to their roster right now. They could even sell this pick, but Giannis or Noguiera seem like safe picks to stash.
28-San Antonio Spurs-Tim Hardaway Jr-interesting scenario for SA. If they win the championship, I could easily see Duncan retiring leaving the Spurs with a big hole to fill. Ginobili appears to be on his last legs, although still a solid player and is a free agent. In a state where the Spurs might be near re-build, or at the very least, re-tool, they could use another play maker. Nobody can duplicate what Duncan has done, but Splitter is no slouch and you’re not going to a find a competent big man at 28 in this draft to play right away. Muscala would be a good pick here if he didn’t go at 25, but Hardaway could be instant impact as a 6th man on the wing alongside Green and Leonard. Those 3 with Parker and Splitter is a great starting point for SA after a championship run and possible re-tool in sight.
29-Oklahoma City Thunder-CJ Leslie-at 29, I hope OKC doesn’t bottom out for the highest bidder, because there’s talent available. Leslie, after picking up Zeller early, is a great fit. He’s a combo forward with phenomenal athletic skills who could have been labeled an above average point guard athletically if he tested with them during the combine. Leslie faded this far back after such high expectations the last two years because his NC State team didn’t get anywhere. Leslie’s game though, translates better to the NBA as a role player than as a college star. Another angle could be PG for OKC here since it seems as though the trust for Reggie Jackson, for whatever reason, isn’t there because Derek Fisher played so damn much for them in the playoffs.
30-Phoenix Suns-Reggie Bullock-Bullock is another guy, during the combine, who could have shot himself into the 1st round with his shooting ability. The Suns have a need at backup center, but can make do in other ways. Picking Oladipo and Bullock could push Beasley out of the rotation for good and also fills a gap that needs filling with Shannon Brown and Wesley Johnson both free agents.
Welcome to The Third Degree w/ CC!
A little about me...first, the name CC stems from my username from at www.wissports.net/playground, or better known as, the best sports website for Wisconsin sports fanatics. Check them out if you haven't been there. CC stands for Cameron Crazies, my favorite college team since I saw an 18 year old pale, gangly, spiky haired kid strut onto Cameron Indoor and launch a bunch of 3's. Yes, I'm looking at you, JJ Redick.
Besides my fangasm for Duke Basketball, I'm a pretty standard homer fan. Fan of the Milwaukee Bucks and Green Bay Packers. Yes, I will live and die by the green and purple...and red...and white? Go Bucks? And as an owner of a Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews and newest edition, Randall Cobb jersey, I bleed green and yellow.
I wrote for my alma matter, UW-Milwaukee's newspaper in the sports section mainly focusing on the Packers. But my intrigue in sports writing stemmed from my days and many late nights on wissports at the age of 14. I originally attended college to become a sports journalist, but quickly changed majors to focus on a career in law enforcement where I am currently a police officer. So if you ever get pulled over, ask if the officer is CC. I hold no responsibility for any backlash you may receive such as being questioned for drug use if you are incorrect, but if you ever do find me, you may get a free pass that day! I also previously hosted the now dormant The Spangover podcast with diener34 from wissports (follow him @Galaxy_Diener). It lasted for around a year where he published only about a dozen podcasts. Hopefully in the near future, we can get it rolling again and add it to the website. You may also find guest appearances at the top, so if you don't like my writing, check out the Guest Appearances section where you will find writings of similar topics by other authors.
Check out the tabs at the top where topics including the Bucks, Packers, NBA, NFL and miscellaneous may be found.
Also, follow me on Twitter @TheSpangover.
A little about me...first, the name CC stems from my username from at www.wissports.net/playground, or better known as, the best sports website for Wisconsin sports fanatics. Check them out if you haven't been there. CC stands for Cameron Crazies, my favorite college team since I saw an 18 year old pale, gangly, spiky haired kid strut onto Cameron Indoor and launch a bunch of 3's. Yes, I'm looking at you, JJ Redick.
Besides my fangasm for Duke Basketball, I'm a pretty standard homer fan. Fan of the Milwaukee Bucks and Green Bay Packers. Yes, I will live and die by the green and purple...and red...and white? Go Bucks? And as an owner of a Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews and newest edition, Randall Cobb jersey, I bleed green and yellow.
I wrote for my alma matter, UW-Milwaukee's newspaper in the sports section mainly focusing on the Packers. But my intrigue in sports writing stemmed from my days and many late nights on wissports at the age of 14. I originally attended college to become a sports journalist, but quickly changed majors to focus on a career in law enforcement where I am currently a police officer. So if you ever get pulled over, ask if the officer is CC. I hold no responsibility for any backlash you may receive such as being questioned for drug use if you are incorrect, but if you ever do find me, you may get a free pass that day! I also previously hosted the now dormant The Spangover podcast with diener34 from wissports (follow him @Galaxy_Diener). It lasted for around a year where he published only about a dozen podcasts. Hopefully in the near future, we can get it rolling again and add it to the website. You may also find guest appearances at the top, so if you don't like my writing, check out the Guest Appearances section where you will find writings of similar topics by other authors.
Check out the tabs at the top where topics including the Bucks, Packers, NBA, NFL and miscellaneous may be found.
Also, follow me on Twitter @TheSpangover.
Welcome to CC's Blog. Here, my third degree of everything NBA and NFL related. Hell, maybe even some personal stories along with it. Leave a comment on the bottom and let me know your thoughts.